Medical Advice on Hot Water Burns

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, hot water burns--also called scald burns--are the "most common type of burn-related injury in young children." Three seconds of contact with 140-degree F water can cause a serious third-degree burn.

Treatment for a scald burn is determined by its severity. Look at the burn and try to determine if it's a first-degree, second-degree or third-degree burn so that you can instigate the appropriate treatment. If you have any uncertainty whatsoever, contact a doctor immediately. Always seek medical treatment for burns that affect large areas of the body, burns on the face or in the eyes and for burns in young infants and children.

First-Degree Burn

In a first-degree burn, skin damage is limited to the outer layer of skin only. The skin looks red, but there is no evidence of blistering. Home first aid treatment is generally sufficient to treat first-degree burns.

To treat a first-degree scald burn, place the affected area under cool running water for 15 minutes to relieve pain and stop further damage to the skin. If the burn is on the face, hold a cold cloth moistened with cool water on the skin. If pain persists after 15 minutes of treatment, repeat the treatment.

Second-Degree Burn

In a second-degree burn, the underneath layer of skin is also damaged, as evidenced by blistering of the skin. You should seek medical treatment from a doctor for second-degree burns.

Begin first aid home treatment for a second-degree burn while awaiting treatment from a doctor. Immediately place the burned area of skin underneath cool running water for 10 minutes or apply a cloth moistened with cool water to the skin. After 10 minutes, remove any clothing that covers the burned area that isn't stuck to the skin. If the clothing is stuck to the skin, leave it in place and wait for a medical professional to remove it. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends putting "bacitracin ointment or honey on broken blisters to prevent infection" if you aren't near a doctor or hospital.

Third-Degree Burn

Third-degree burns affect the entire depth of the skin and tissues underneath the skin. Pain may or may not be present with a third-degree burn, depending on whether nerves have been damaged. Third-degree burns are the most serious type of burn and require immediate medical attention.

Call 911 or go to the hospital immediately if you have a third-degree burn. Do not attempt to remove clothing that is stuck on the burn. While awaiting treatment, place the burned area under cool running water. Treat the burn with cool water until medical help is available. Keep the burned part of the body elevated above the heart, if possible. If driving to a hospital or in another situation in which you aren't near running water, cover the burn with a sterile bandage moistened with cool water, if possible.